Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-08-03

beauty ana his conception or Fanny's
availability as the central ornament of
his home for love. The fact is, he
sought her rs he would an exquisite
copy or an edition de llEre of some valu-
| able book for his library. He had about
made up his mind to marry her, although
he had spent some days trying to deter
mine whether Irene would not do as
well. He had, of course. viewed with
no little disturbance the occasional
visits of Stanwooi to Concord Place.
At the Alderson's party, 4 few nights
before, he had walked the long gallery
with Fanny IN the witcheIy of moon
light, and had vehemently asseverated
his love and had firmly believed that
she was: conquered, although she with
drew her hand quickly from his and
said: Not yetp'-with some emotion.
This day, he believed, would crown his
heroic labOrs with success, and he only
sought an opportunity to renew his
suit
StanwOod had allowed himself little
hope, but cultivated much determIna-
tlou. lie had found q very pleasure
able reciprocity 0f tastes and opinion
in his acquaintance with Fanny. Their
differences were few and rather pleas
urably variant than hOStilely so. He
had simply been in her presence what
he really WAS. He had nothing 10 con-
ceal; his lugenuOusuesS pleased her.
And II did more. She felt AN iude-
scTlbable pleasure III his presence,
feebly sought; but She did not press the
quest; she had an instructive dread of
doing SO. Then thsre was Renwicl
Nichols, too. She liked him becau se
lie amused her. She could not conceive
OF his really loving her or any other
woman; but yet he seemed as earnest
as he possibly could be. Sometimes
she thought he really faucied her sister
lrene-careleSs, unsentimental Irene,
who never could make "a religion of
love, but was content with attentions
and would never break her heart over
anybody. The SISTERS differed raiI-
cally; that was the reason Fanny had
said-''Not YET. " when RenwIck leaned
over her hand on that mOOnlIt gallery,
half believing that the conqUe5. was
easy.
There was i hilarious time 1T the
dinner, which was taken al T'reScO and
IN al kinds OF attitudes; but II WIS Ike
AL such woodland dinners, and leaving
the elders chatting under the trees and
the tidlers drawing the dancers mer-
rl!y TO the changing figures again, We
Will follow two OF the guests down the
path to the spring and out on the sands
Of the bayou. They were Renwick
Nichols and Fanny Chenard. Harry
StauwOOd was dancing with Irene
under the trees, Fanny looked back 10
the gay dancers and saw him there.
The afternoon shadows slanted across
the bayou as Fanny and her companion
walked down to the ribbed beds of
sand, 1toPping occasionally to gather
flowers which cleaned from the banks
or TO gather gay pebbles from beneath
their feet, almost in child fashion.
| There was delicious langour in the
air, which was laden with perfume OF
| the great magnolia blossoms in the
woods above, and the two went along
/ in the alluring way, reach after reach,
wooed by fresh attractions as they
/ turned each bend.
you said to me the other night,
/ remarked Renwick, as he carelessly bit
/ off the end of 4 cigar, not yet did you
mean that to-day was to be the limit OF
! mot yet?' Tell me, Miss Fanny"
You seem to be very comfortable
Mr.. Nichols, with 4 fate hanging over
/ your head"
But you have not answered my
qunstion."
II have not"
"Will you answer itr"
ANSWER whatt"
"Oh, you know!"
~ remember that night you talkeC
about loving me, and you said goo1
mary things l am sure you did no
/ meau.n
"WII you no: answer my question:
SAID Mr.. Nichols, with some impa
! tIeuce.
'What If 1 say mot yet again?"
Miss Cheuard IS capricious!"
'Fot at allv'
al tell you, Miss Fanny, that 1 low
YOU and would give my life for you.
Indeed l would. l am lonely at Mid
hurst, and"
rs it because you are lonely at Mid
hurst that you want meE'
"SO. don't be cruel''-and Mr.
Nichols bit his lip and switched th
sand off OF his pretty little foot Wit
his riding whip. lie was impatient
and showed it.
Fanny smiled
They walked along In silence 70
some time, when her companion SAID
II believe IL Is going TO rain"
There was a sudden stiffness in III
air and a graylsh mist was creepln
over the sky; the shadows grew deepe
in the BAYOU and the greenery SCENE
mourning for the withdrawn sun.
I'VE had better so back" sal
Fanny.
% Inst as she said this she felt her foo
b | NJ to be insecure. y few steps MOI
aud she felt herself sinking into u
sand, as if drawn by some lnvlslo
d laud-
II WAS "A cry OF terror. There hashe
...rnss Fanny's mind all the southeE
f,fkIo-e she had heard about the my
" -.ries of ouicksand She remembers
! Ter old s.mammy's' story OF her chill
,rho had been drawn down into treaci
. .rous and hungry sands which Ell
raced II like a devil fish and crushe
,se life out of it. She struggled to dl
, .upage herself; threw her arms wild
= aitner and thither; she was sinking
, hat she was certain
+, The vision of the bright spring NOR
- ing and the smiling flowers and myrl'
!, dewdrops glittering in the Joyous su
: the merry throng in the woods; Ire
= .aughing in indo!escent redundanc
/, M this passed before her like beau
q, tul dream
!, Renwick Nichels had, at first, laugh
!, md extended his hand, thinking hghl
# her cry. He had heard girls shrl
: when treading upon toads or when g
ing their feet wet. Fanny grasp
d, MS hand with a desperation u
\ riChtened him. He took her by DO
: ,er arms and essayed to draw her
-, irmer ground; but it was useless;
5 lwu footing was becoming lnsecul
j They stood on bed OF the most treaS
i rous and relentless quicksanu-
/, ,wn little weIl-shod feet were 20.
: lown, but he threw himself out on
!, .rmer sand, and using his fun strehg
..,NnI an tha hpnntifnl form WI